EP0790919B1 - Low profile flotation collar - Google Patents

Low profile flotation collar Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0790919B1
EP0790919B1 EP96933203A EP96933203A EP0790919B1 EP 0790919 B1 EP0790919 B1 EP 0790919B1 EP 96933203 A EP96933203 A EP 96933203A EP 96933203 A EP96933203 A EP 96933203A EP 0790919 B1 EP0790919 B1 EP 0790919B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
flotation
collar
user
cells
inflatable
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP96933203A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
French (fr)
Other versions
EP0790919A4 (en
EP0790919A1 (en
Inventor
Gary F. Bradley
William Barry Shope
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
BAE Systems Simula Inc
Original Assignee
Simula Inc
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Simula Inc filed Critical Simula Inc
Publication of EP0790919A1 publication Critical patent/EP0790919A1/en
Publication of EP0790919A4 publication Critical patent/EP0790919A4/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of EP0790919B1 publication Critical patent/EP0790919B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Lifetime legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B63—SHIPS OR OTHER WATERBORNE VESSELS; RELATED EQUIPMENT
    • B63C—LAUNCHING, HAULING-OUT, OR DRY-DOCKING OF VESSELS; LIFE-SAVING IN WATER; EQUIPMENT FOR DWELLING OR WORKING UNDER WATER; MEANS FOR SALVAGING OR SEARCHING FOR UNDERWATER OBJECTS
    • B63C9/00—Life-saving in water
    • B63C9/08—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like
    • B63C9/11—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like covering the torso, e.g. harnesses
    • B63C9/125—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like covering the torso, e.g. harnesses having gas-filled compartments
    • B63C9/1255—Life-buoys, e.g. rings; Life-belts, jackets, suits, or the like covering the torso, e.g. harnesses having gas-filled compartments inflatable

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to personnel flotation devices, i.e., life preservers, and, more specifically, to flotation collars.
  • Typical prior art flotation collars have serious drawbacks in their construction and in their range of available features.
  • U.S. Patent Nos.1,385,581; 2,210,809; and 5,421,760 disclose flotation devices having several independent compartments, such that if one of the compartments fail, the apparatus will still support the weight of the wearer. However, in those devices, support is provided from the neck up only. This forces the wearer to bob face forward in the water in an extreme vertical position. swimming, especially for any distance, is difficult and exhausting.
  • some prior art devices provide only unstable support if one of the air compartments fail. In this event, it may be difficult for the wearer to keep his head squarely above water. Also, with many of the prior art devices, when water surges at the user, it is channeled between the inflated lobes of the flotation device directly into the wearer's nose and mouth. Yet another problem with some prior inventions is that they are not compatible with typical military equipment including seating restraint harnesses, head gear, survival vests, and auxiliary belts due to weight and volume.
  • a personal flotation device should be comfortable to wear on a continuous basis, in or out of the water, be compatible with other typical survival gear; be quickly and easily put on and removed; provide immediate support through redundant inflation components; provide easy-to-use manual inflation components; provide continued and stable support should one of the flotation cells fail to operate; and provide a shape and component parts that will prevent water from surging at the user's nose and mouth.
  • the present invention seeks to provide an integrated system of components that are constructed and assembled to provide the user with an extremely efficient, complete, and functional life-saving flotation collar.
  • a flotation collar as claimed in claim 1.
  • Such a collar can be used by aircraft and shipboard personnel in the event of an emergency.
  • the flotation collar may be used with a survival vest, or with an auxiliary belt.
  • the two flotation cells are completely independent, if one cell fails, the other can support the user with his/her head elevated, with his/her face out of the water. Because the cells are symmetric, only one cell can support the user in a relatively comfortable attitude, should the other cell fail.
  • the present invention will continue to function properly and provide stable support if one of the flotation cells fails. It orients the user's face upward in the water, and elevates his head and upper torso out of the water. It supports the user's upper torso as well as the user's head, thus making swimming easier.
  • the present invention is compatible with current military helmets, restraint harnesses, survival equipment, and vests. It also provides a place for the user to rest his arms.
  • auxiliary belt alone (i.e., without a survival vest) which provides the wearer with additional mobility and comfort during shipboard operations.
  • the present invention provides a superior means for the user to survive a water ditching or crash emergency, falling overboard, ejection, or other in-water emergency. It also may provide redundancy in inflation by interconnecting the manual inflation handles so that the user can activate both flotation cells by pulling either handle.
  • It also provides a device that is comfortable enough to be worn continuously and remains comfortable when deployed in an emergency situation.
  • the primary components of the flotation collar are an outer protective cover, a fabric shell, two inflatable flotation cells, two oral inflators, two mechanical inflators, a harness system, an integrated face shield, and, optionally, automatic water-sensing actuators.
  • the present invention comprises two mechanically, automatically or orally inflated flotation cells 11 and 12, which are installed in a fabric shell 13.
  • Flotation cells 11 and 12 are totally independent of each other, i.e., there is no fluid connection between the two cells. If one of the cells fails, the other cell will continue to support the user.
  • FIGS 1a-1c also show oral inflators 14 in flotation cells 11 and 12, valve adaptor 15 which connects the flotation cells to the CO 2 inflation mechanism, access port 16 in fabric shell 13 for the oral inflators, CO 2 inflation mechanism and cylinders 17, stowage pouch 18 for the face shield, and zippered access to fabric shell 13 (for installation of flotation cells 11 and 12), rear hold-down straps 22, beaded handles 24, front hold-down straps 25, and face shield hold down tabs 34.
  • Figure 1d is a side view showing flotation cells 11 and 12 inside fabric shell 13.
  • protective collar 21 is secured to the user by rear hold-down adjustable straps 22, chest straps 23, and front hold-down adjustable straps 25.
  • the straps force the inflated shell to conform closely to the user's torso. This elevates the user's head further out of the water, reduces the water drag, and stabilizes the user, allowing the user to swim forward more easily.
  • Front hold-down adjustable straps 25 extend over each side of the inflated shell and also provide a means for the user to rest his arms while awaiting rescue.
  • Front straps 25 secure the inflation shell within the exterior protective cover during normal use, and ensure that the inflation shell emerges from the cover in the proper sequence during inflation.
  • Beaded handles 24 are used to activate pneumatic inflation actuators, which inflate the flotation cells by releasing gas from, e.g , carbon dioxide cylinders, mounted on the user's front left and right sides, when beaded handles 24 are pulled
  • the user can manually activate both flotation cells via a single beaded handle. This is an important feature, since the user may be incapacitated in either hand or arm.
  • This manually redundant inflation activation is achieved by a "Y" bridle and lanyard arrangement that interconnects both beaded handles and pneumatic actuators.
  • adjustable back straps 22 On the back of the uninflated collar are two adjustable back straps 22, attached to the collar. These attach to the back of the user's survival vest or belt. The back straps also help control the shape of the inflated shell and elevate the head and upper torso further out of the water.
  • Figure 2b shows auxiliary belt 26, which is used when the user is not wearing a survival vest.
  • Connectors 27 and 28 are used to securely connect back straps 22 and front straps 25, respectively, to the auxiliary belt.
  • Figure 2c shows a user wearing the flotation collar with an auxiliary belt.
  • Figures 3-5 demonstrate the use of the present invention.
  • the user is pulling on the beaded handles to start inflation.
  • the flotation collar has been fully inflated.
  • Figure 5 shows the user resting his arms on the front straps, with his head elevated out of the water by the flotation collar.
  • Figures 6 to 8 show a user wearing the present invention with a survival vest.
  • the individual flotation cells are constructed from symmetric patterns that permit ease of repair or interchangability. They are made of polyurethane-coated nylon. Installation into the fabric shell is accomplished via zippered access for each cell. The zippered access is located on the top surface of the fabric shell.
  • the two carbon dioxide cylinders are exposed on the front of the flotation collar. After rescue or after a standard mainteneance test, they can be discarded by unscrewing them from the actuators. Also visible are two oral inflators, one on each side of the front of the collar near the user's mouth. As can be seen from Figure 5, the shape of the inflated shell reduces the surge of water into the user's nose and mouth.
  • a preferred embodiment of the present invention includes a face shield to allow the user to breathe and see in wind-driven water spray conditions.
  • the user releases the face shield and pulls it over his head for protection after inflation of the flotation collar. Inflation of the shell reveals a pocket on the top of the back of the collar directly behind the user's head. This pocket, which is secured with Velcro® tabs, stores an adjustable, clear, flexible face shield 31 attached to a stretchable fabric 32.
  • Two release tabs 33 are provided for access by either hand to deploy the face shield over the head Once pulled over the head, the face shield is secured to tabs 34 near each of the front straps 25 on the lower portion of the inflated shell.
  • the stretchable fabric accommodates large and small helmets.
  • the user can detach and discard the shield at any time, as shown in Figure 12.
  • the user is releasing the face shield from behind the user's helmet, so that he or she can gain access to the survival vest's lifting ring (not shown).
  • the shape of the inflated shell provides a contoured cradle to permit the free rotation of the user's head and neck.
  • the exterior protective collar is made of, e.g., an aramide fiber such as Nomex®.
  • a releasable zipper runs the length of the outer edge of the collar and secures the fabric shell, made of nylon, within the exterior protective cover.
  • Water sensing actuators may be used with the present invention.
  • the water sensing actuators provide the advantage of protection for the user who is unconscious, wounded, or in other ways incapable of pulling the beaded actuator handles or using the oral inflation actuators.
  • Water sensing actuators are small electronic devices that are co-located with the CO 2 inflation cylinder. When salt water enters a chamber, a sensor within the actuator causes a circuit to be closed, activating the mechanism used to pierce the CO 2 cylinder.

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Ocean & Marine Engineering (AREA)
  • Professional, Industrial, Or Sporting Protective Garments (AREA)
EP96933203A 1995-09-14 1996-09-13 Low profile flotation collar Expired - Lifetime EP0790919B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US527700 1995-09-14
US08/527,700 US5692933A (en) 1995-09-14 1995-09-14 Low profile flotation collar
PCT/US1996/015665 WO1997010144A1 (en) 1995-09-14 1996-09-13 Low profile flotation collar

Publications (3)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0790919A1 EP0790919A1 (en) 1997-08-27
EP0790919A4 EP0790919A4 (en) 1999-11-03
EP0790919B1 true EP0790919B1 (en) 2003-03-05

Family

ID=24102568

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP96933203A Expired - Lifetime EP0790919B1 (en) 1995-09-14 1996-09-13 Low profile flotation collar

Country Status (8)

Country Link
US (1) US5692933A (ja)
EP (1) EP0790919B1 (ja)
JP (2) JPH10502891A (ja)
AU (1) AU708671B2 (ja)
DE (1) DE69626488T2 (ja)
IL (1) IL120770A (ja)
NZ (1) NZ319487A (ja)
WO (1) WO1997010144A1 (ja)

Families Citing this family (28)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
AUPO518797A0 (en) * 1997-02-20 1997-04-11 Braeckmans, Patrick Aqua U.V.
NZ505940A (en) 1997-10-10 2003-11-28 Simula Inc Low profile survival vest with webbing harness
US6270386B1 (en) 1997-11-05 2001-08-07 Avagear Inc. Avalanche life-preserving jacket with airbag
US20040033740A1 (en) * 2001-01-15 2004-02-19 Jones Richard Mark Flotation device
US6837764B2 (en) 2001-07-25 2005-01-04 Simula, Inc. Multi-chambered flotation device
US6857136B1 (en) * 2002-09-27 2005-02-22 Simula, Inc. Inflatable head and neck support collar
US6589088B1 (en) 2001-12-31 2003-07-08 Lifesaving Systems Corporation Low profile life vest
NZ535105A (en) * 2002-03-13 2008-01-31 Aquasafe Australasia Pty Ltd Buoyancy garment in the form of a common garment with water safety features
ITGE20020013U1 (it) * 2002-07-05 2004-01-05 Htm Sport Spa Jacket equilibratore per attivita subacquea provvisto di sacca gonfiabile bisacco a forma di ferro di cavallo
US6843694B2 (en) 2002-12-26 2005-01-18 Light Bulb, Llc Wearable emergency flotation device
US7059925B2 (en) * 2004-04-01 2006-06-13 Tulmar Safety Systems, Inc. Life preserver system
GB0410849D0 (en) * 2004-05-14 2004-06-16 Spinlock Ltd A safety harness
US7118437B1 (en) * 2004-10-18 2006-10-10 H. Koch & Sons Co., Inc. Flotation collar
US7186158B1 (en) * 2005-12-07 2007-03-06 Barber Gerald L Life saving necklace
DE602006003057D1 (de) * 2006-01-31 2008-11-20 Saab Ab System zum Festhalten eines Schutzhelms
US7798878B1 (en) * 2007-08-28 2010-09-21 Bobby Lee Personal windscreen apparatus
US20090233506A1 (en) * 2008-03-14 2009-09-17 Wei-Liang Lee Bladder of inflatable floating-assistant vest and manufacturing method of the same
US8231421B1 (en) * 2011-02-07 2012-07-31 Gsm (Operations) Pty Ltd Inflatable wet suit
US20130014310A1 (en) * 2011-07-15 2013-01-17 Tang Tai Shun Swimsuit with lifesaving device
US8911273B2 (en) 2012-08-29 2014-12-16 Patagonia, Inc. Watersports inflation vest
US9045206B2 (en) 2013-08-09 2015-06-02 Aerial Machine & Tool Corp. Survival equipment vest incorporating flotation bladder
USD816791S1 (en) 2015-02-04 2018-05-01 Intex Marketing Ltd. Inflatable swim device
WO2016126960A1 (en) * 2015-02-04 2016-08-11 Intex Recreation Corp. Inflatable swimwear
GB201717982D0 (en) * 2017-10-31 2017-12-13 Dale Jeremy Nigel A dual bladder life jacket
KR101966047B1 (ko) * 2018-09-14 2019-04-04 우상형 목에 착용하는 구명장치
US10974800B1 (en) * 2019-10-03 2021-04-13 Glenn Duthie Self inflating float assembly
US11014641B1 (en) 2019-11-11 2021-05-25 Aerial Machine & Tool Corporation Wearable flotation device
US11266122B1 (en) 2020-12-30 2022-03-08 John M. Howard Pet immobilizer system

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
IL120770A0 (en) 1997-09-30
US5692933A (en) 1997-12-02
AU7202796A (en) 1997-04-01
AU708671B2 (en) 1999-08-12
EP0790919A4 (en) 1999-11-03
IL120770A (en) 2000-08-31
JP3075650U (ja) 2001-02-27
NZ319487A (en) 1998-05-27
JPH10502891A (ja) 1998-03-17
WO1997010144A1 (en) 1997-03-20
DE69626488D1 (de) 2003-04-10
DE69626488T2 (de) 2003-10-30
EP0790919A1 (en) 1997-08-27

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